So I got a ticket a little over a month ago in Redwood City for making an illegal U-Turn. I had planned on sending in a request for a trial by mail. In order to do that, you have to send in the bail amount with the trial by mail request. The bail amount was not written on the original citation, so I figured I would receive it in the mail on the courtesy notice.

My trial date was set for Thanksgiving day, so I had to send in the request for trial by mail at least 5 days before then. I called up the San Mateo County courts phone number and went through their automated system and input my citation number when it asked me to. The system said it had no record of the citation and transferred me to a live person (This was all on the 21st of November, I believe). She also said that there is no record in the system of that citation, and that I should check back on Wednesday following Thanksgiving. I agreed.

That day, my dad calls me up and tells me I got a notice in the mail about something (my DMV record still lists me at my dad's house). From what I could understand from him, I had assumed it was in regards to a no front plate violation I had received soon after the illegal u-turn ticket. I passed it off for now, but Thanksgiving came and when I visited my dad, I saw it was actually a corrections notice for the illegal u-turn ticket. The court date was changed from the 27th of November to the 4th of December. Still there was no bail amount written on this correction.

So today I call the number again and get the automated system, the automated system still has no record of my citation and tells me to call another number. I call that number and I get a voicemail message saying their hours (I'm calling within their listed hours) and then it hangs up. So either they really have no record of the citation, or they're forcing me to come into court and leaving me with no other options. I want to submit this damn trial by mail declaration but I can't because I don't know the bail amount! And since my trial date is on the 4th, this mail needs to go out by Saturday at the latest. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? This is f*cking ridiculous.

 

Sucks for you Chad!
Oops that didn't help
Wish I could help, but I'm not sure what should be done. I guess you might really have to go to court? Might be a safer alternative than assuming that they have no record of the citation right? Good luck!

 

You could always just call the courthouse and let them know your situation. The clerk should be able to tell you your options.




:banana:

 

you my firend... just got..


edgar,

 

LMAO at that pic.

 

Now that's not very helpful is it



:banana:

 

Print out that picture and send it in. I think thats what Edgar meant....Yeah call the clerk. The beat up Edgar.


Wierd man... its almost like you don't want to call in because if they've made a mistake and you can get away with it...

By the way what was the illegality of the u-turn? Double yellow? Commericial district?

jason

 

Its possible the officer didnt turn in that ticket properly and it doesnt exist. Happened to me on the only time ive ever gotten a ticket... I went in on the date on the ticket, and the judge said they have no record of it and you are free to go.

 

*update* Apparently they realized they are a bunch of f*ckups and changed the court date to the 30th of December. Problem more or less solved.

 

Is Redwood City in San Mateo County? ChecK this web site:
https://www.sanmateocourt.org/traffic/

I got a ticket couple of months ago, and they also did not mail me anything, so you can use this website to check how much they want, pay for it, or request a traffic school.

 

Good luck fighting it Chad! :banana:

 

Thanks ^_^

 

good luck